AP Exams
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AP US Government & Politics
Key concepts for AP Government including the Constitution, branches of government, and civil liberties.
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Federalism
Division of power between national and state governments; enumerated vs reserved powers
Separation of Powers
Government divided into 3 branches: legislative, executive, judicial; prevents concentration of power
Checks and Balances
Each branch can limit the others; presidential veto, judicial review, Senate confirmation
Judicial Review
Supreme Court power to declare laws unconstitutional; established in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments; protects individual rights: speech, religion, arms, fair trial, etc.
1st Amendment
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
2nd Amendment
Right to keep and bear arms
4th Amendment
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; requires warrants with probable cause
5th Amendment
Due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain
14th Amendment
Equal protection, due process applied to states; citizenship clause; most-litigated amendment
Electoral College
538 electors; 270 needed to win; winner-take-all in most states; allocates electors by state population + 2
Congressional Powers
Article I; taxing, spending, commerce, declare war; Senate: treaties, confirmations; House: revenue bills, impeach
Executive Powers
Article II; Commander in Chief, pardons, treaties (with Senate), executive orders, veto
Supreme Court
9 justices; life tenure; original and appellate jurisdiction; cert petitions; precedent (stare decisis)
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established judicial review; Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Federal law supreme over state law; implied powers (Necessary and Proper Clause); can't tax federal bank
Brown v. Board (1954)
School segregation unconstitutional; overturned 'separate but equal' (Plessy v. Ferguson)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Right to an attorney in criminal cases, even if you can't afford one
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Must inform suspects of rights before interrogation (right to remain silent, right to attorney)
Political Parties
Two-party system; Democrats (left-center) and Republicans (right-center); third parties rarely win
Interest Groups
Organizations that influence policy; lobbying, PACs, grassroots campaigns; NRA, AARP, Sierra Club
Gerrymandering
Drawing district lines to favor a party; packing and cracking; affects representation
Filibuster
Senate tactic to delay a vote by extended debate; requires 60 votes for cloture to end
Bureaucracy
Federal agencies that implement laws; Cabinet departments, independent agencies; civil service system
Iron Triangle
Relationship between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups; policy-making
Civil Liberties
Constitutional protections against government; Bill of Rights; individual freedoms
Civil Rights
Government protection of equal treatment; anti-discrimination laws; 14th Amendment equal protection
Due Process
Government must follow fair procedures before depriving life, liberty, or property; 5th and 14th Amendments
Federalist Papers
Hamilton, Madison, Jay; essays arguing for Constitution ratification; Federalist 10 (factions), 51 (checks)
Amendments Process
2/3 of both chambers propose, 3/4 of state legislatures ratify; or constitutional convention (never used)
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